How to Decorate a Wedding on a Budget

From streamers to balloons and flowers, there are endless ways to decorate for your wedding day. Although there are countless options for decor, you have a limited budget. So what are some wedding decoration ideas that won’t break the bank?

You can have elaborate and beautiful decorations to enhance the excitement of your wedding celebration without exceeding your budget. Here’s a look at some of the ways you can save big on decor while creating a magical atmosphere at your wedding.

Wedding Decorator Cost

A decor expert can do wonders, so one option is to hire someone to help you decorate. But what’s the cost of a wedding decorator?

Wedding planners often offer services regarding wedding decor, but you can also search in your local area for decor-exclusive services. The Wedding Lady has a wedding package just for decor services, which comes out to $1,500. For this price, you have access to all their decor in addition to assistance with setting up and cleaning up for the wedding. If you need help setting up decor, you can usually hire help by the hour. Some venues may even offer services for this. However, there can be a minimum number of hours needed for the service.

With these prices, is it worth it to hire a decorator? If you’ve already hired a wedding planner, you might want to take advantage of their decor services, but you don’t need to rely solely on a planner for your decor.

How to Decorate a Wedding Reception

After you book your wedding venue, it’s time to start thinking about how to decorate it. There are plenty of options when it comes to decorating, and you can cut costs through DIY decorations. Your decorations include centerpieces, wedding table decor, and backdrops for unforgettable pictures and memories with your friends, family, and loved ones.

Inexpensive Centerpiece Ideas

Wedding centerpieces are often large and elaborate, but if that’s not your style, then choose something else! Enormous bouquets of flowers come with a hefty price tag, but there are other inexpensive ideas for centerpieces, even ones that still include plants and flowers as the focal point.

Forget expensive floral arrangements— place succulents in terrariums at the center of your table. If you’re going for a rustic wedding, greenery really does the trick. Succulents and air plants are a twist on traditional floral arrangements, but they can look just as elegant. If you do prefer floral arrangements, try going a more minimalist route. By putting a few flowers in a thin vase, you can have flowers as the star of the table without spending a fortune on large bouquets. Use a flower guide to decide which ones are just right for a centerpiece.

To create a whimsical and playful feel, use balloons as your centerpiece! Giant balloons fill up the space, especially if your venue has high ceilings. Match the balloons to your wedding’s color scheme or use different colors. Either way, this is sure to give your wedding a bright pop of color.

Use mason jars to create the perfect centerpiece. You can buy mason jars in bulk, and they’re super versatile. Paint and decorate them to your heart’s desire, fill them with flowers, or put candles in them for an ethereal glow.

Candles are another cheap yet captivating item that you can add to your centerpiece and wedding decorations. They don’t have to be exclusively a part of your centerpiece; candles can look fabulous anywhere in your reception venue! Just make sure you ask your venue if you can have open flames first.

Cheap Wedding Table Decorations

Besides the centerpiece, you can add bits and pieces of decor on your tables at your reception to add more flair. Whether you decide to keep it more minimalist or spruce up your venue down to the tables, you can stay within your budget with these ideas for cheap wedding table decorations.

Table runners take your seating to the next level. Just a simple piece of cloth can make a table seem that much fancier. If you want a more down-to-earth feel, burlap is a great and cheap option. Sprinkle some flower petals or confetti over your table runner for an extra festive look!

Napkins with patterns add more whimsy to your wedding decorations. This is a way to decorate and bring more excitement without buying extra items as decor. Linen napkins can set you back, but keep your eyes open for cheaper napkins. By folding your napkins into bows or other shapes, you can add another layer of decor.

Use food as decor! Your guests will be impressed with your decorations, but they’re also here to enjoy the food. This is a fun way to combine both aspects of your wedding. Mason jars come in handy here, too. Fill up jars with colorful candy and snacks.

Cheap Wedding Backdrop Ideas

Fun backdrops give your guests a place to take pictures and remember your wedding day. If you want to go with something simple and cheap, hang up tulle. This works as a backdrop, but you can also hang tulle around your venue for a more classy or mystical feel.

Like tulle, string lights are also another option for creating a magical atmosphere. String lights are inexpensive, but there are even more ways to save money. Instead of buying string lights, you can use white Christmas lights. That being said, rose gold string lights do add a nice touch to a wedding. String lights fit rustic themes and elegant ones, so from banquet halls to barns, they fit all types of venues.

More balloons! If you’re a fan of balloon centerpieces, you can also use balloons for a backdrop and photos. Instead of using plain balloons, find letter balloons to spell out “love,” “congrats,” the initials of you and your partner, or whatever else you like. By using balloons shaped like numbers, you can write out the date of your wedding.

As a backdrop, you can also hang up photos of you and your partner. Whether it’s engagement photos or pictures you’ve taken together over the years, your wedding day is the perfect time to look back at your relationship together.

DIY Wedding Ideas for a Tight Budget

Planning a wedding already consumes a lot of time, but if you can squeeze in a little bit more, making your own decorations is another way to save big. Plus, there are numerous DIY projects that are quick and easy. Enlist the help of your friends and family or ask your maid of honor or best man to see if they can pitch in as well.

Start your DIY journey with a quick search on Pinterest. Wedding idea boards are all over the site, so you can find all the decor ideas possible. Since many DIY projects use paper, they’re an affordable option for lovely decorations. Although some DIY projects can take a lot of skill, there are basic projects for everyone of any craft level!

Take your paper-folding (or cutting) skills to the test. A simple sheet of paper can do wonders. Add little origami swans to your tables, make paper flowers to drape on the walls, or cut out paper lanterns to hang from the ceiling. Match your decorations to your theme by using solid colored paper or use patterned paper to make your celebration more lively.

Do you know someone with gorgeous handwriting or calligraphy skills? Ask someone to help you draw custom chalkboard signs or banners! You can use a large sign to welcome guests to your wedding and point them in the right direction for seating at the ceremony or reception. Hand-lettered chalkboard place cards can add a personal touch, too.

From the bride’s bouquet to centerpieces, flowers are everywhere at a wedding. If you want to add even more, consider pressing flowers to use as decor. Since pressing flowers takes some time, make sure you think about this in advance! If chalkboard place cards aren’t your thing, you can glue pressed flowers onto place cards to personalize them instead.

Conclusion

No matter the theme or budget for your wedding, there’s affordable decor for everyone. Although wedding planners and decorators are an asset, you can still set up and create gorgeous decorations on your own. With these ideas for centerpieces, table decorations, backdrops, and DIY projects, you’re on your way to the picture-perfect wedding. Now that you’ve got the decor down, it’s time to look at wedding dresses!

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